On Wednesday, January 10, SHPE took part in a very special event with the First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden. The event’s conversation focused on “Women Mentoring Women,” bringing together advocates from foundations, companies, social justice, and tech organizations committed to uplifting women in their respective fields nationwide.  Representing SHPE with pride during this distinguished occasion was SHPE Government Relations and Public Affairs Director, Mariana Acuña Delgado. 

In partnership with the “Know Your Value” movement, a nationwide initiative devoted to supporting, inspiring, and empowering women to reach their fullest potential, the First Lady hosted a candid conversation on the impactful lessons that shaped her career. As a fervent advocate for education, health, and financial autonomy, the First Lady spoke about the crucial role of eliminating biases in order to enhance opportunities of upward economic mobility for women. When asked about what gives her hope about future generations, she turned, noting that all organizations present – SHPE included – serve as exemplar leaders of change for women in their communities.  

This conversation was particularly impactful for SHPE’s mission as it aims to increase the representation of Latinas in STEM. It further reinforced the valuable role of SHPEtinas in the workplace and their resilience into creating a stronger support ecosystem in society for all Hispanic women, no matter their age, personal or professional journeys. Mariana Acuña Delgado reflected on the conversation, saying, “Some of the biggest takeaways from the conversation were that career pathways or success aren’t linear. That’s why we must prioritize our well-being along the way and slow down to enjoy every second of our personal and professional growth. Most importantly, celebrate small wins without comparing the timeline of our own experiences to others.”  

SHPE is deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been included in this once-in-a-lifetime event. Attending and listening to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden was a tremendous honor. Being in the company of extraordinary leaders and advocates for women from across the nation, while witnessing firsthand the passion driving Dr. Biden’s initiatives aimed at leveling the playing field for women, has provided our team with added strength to persist incentivizing positive change for generations of Latinas to come. 

Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC interviews Dr. Jill Biden for a “Know Your Value” segment as part of the “Women Mentoring” Women event.

On December 19, 2023, Dayna L. Martínez, Senior Director of Research & Impact, represented SHPE in a panel discussion before President Biden’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics. The Commission advises the President, through the Secretary of Education, on matters related to educational equity and economic opportunity for the Hispanic and Latino community.

During the panel “Accelerating Latino Student Learning and Success with Community and Data,” Dr. Martínez briefed the commissioners, members of the U.S. Department of Education, White House Hispanic Initiative, and community advocates on SHPE’s accomplishments. She identified areas of opportunity to further narrow the gap between the Hispanic community and STEM. By leveraging data findings in the 2023 SHPE-LDC U.S. Latinos in Engineering & Tech Report and our “YOU Belong In STEM” Initiative Commitments, Dr. Martínez spoke about intentional approaches to ensure our STEM workforce attracts and retains more Hispanics, creating economic mobility opportunities in line with STEM employment projections.

SHPE’s recommendations to the commission result from our unique position to address upcoming workforce challenges. With our extensive network of industry and academic partners and real-time understanding of our community’s needs, SHPE is well-equipped to optimize investments aimed at broadening the participation of groups like ours. SHPE is honored to have been invited to speak during this public meeting and recognized as a strong stakeholder in raising the bar in STEM education and workforce development advocating for the Hispanic community.

Today, Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar and Congressman Tony Cardenas reintroduced their Hispanics in STEM House Resolution calling for an increased presence of Latinos in STEM fields and increased support at the federal level for initiatives aimed at accomplishing this goal. 

Among its provisions, the resolution states that the House— 

(1) supports the goal of increasing Latino individuals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as a way to promote economic empowerment and sustainability, not only in their community, but in the overall U.S. economy; 

(2) acknowledges that, while Latino individuals have been a foundation for the United States economy, they are underrepresented in STEM fields to the detriment of these industries and the broader U.S. economy; and 

(3) encourages increased Federal support for initiatives aimed at boosting the number of Latino students who pursue STEM education and career paths, particularly engineering. 

“The re-introduction of the Hispanics in STEM House Resolution is a renewed commitment that underscores the vital role of the Hispanic community in shaping and cultivating a strong and skilled domestic workforce. As the fastest growing demographic in the nation, Hispanics are crucial to driving innovation and meeting the demands of key industries in the economy. SHPE is grateful for Representatives Cardenas and Salazar for taking steps to get Congress on board with our agenda” said Miguel Alemañy, SHPE CEO. 

“Investing in education and workforce development is critical and having more Latinos pursuing STEM degrees will help grow our economy when it is desperately needed,” said Congresswoman Salazar. “Latinos, who are currently underrepresented in STEM fields, can and should help fill our country’s need for more highly skilled and technical workers. I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan resolution recognizing the importance of Latinos in STEM.” 

“STEM education changed my life,” said Congressman Cárdenas. “I had teachers tell me that I wouldn’t be able to cut it at University of California Santa Barbara and that I should train to be a mechanic rather than aiming for a degree in engineering. I overcame that negativity and ignorance, and I am proud to have seen other San Fernando Valley trailblazers like Senator Alex Padilla and Assemblywoman Luz Rivas use their STEM educations and knowledge to lead. This is why Congresswoman Salazar and I are fighting to empower more Latinos to pursue STEM careers. Enhancing opportunities for Latinos in STEM roles will strengthen our country and build the next generation of astronauts, inventors, leaders, and more.”

The Resolution builds upon the unanimous passage of a similar Hispanics in STEM House Resolution by the U.S. Senate in May 2022 that was introduced by Senators John Cornyn and Alex Padilla. 

It also notes that the Hispanic population reached 62.5 million, constituting 19% of the total U.S. population and that projections suggest this number will reach 111.2 million, representing 28% of the U.S, by 2060.  While the overall number of STEM graduates has increased in recent years, Latino workers remain underrepresented in the STEM workforce, making up 18% of total employees across all occupations, but only 8% of all STEM workers. 

Download a printable version of this press release.

The U.S. Department of Education gathered community leaders on Wednesday, July 26^th in Washington, D.C. to discuss the new landscape of student success following the Supreme Court’s ruling on Affirmative Action. The discussions centered around crucial topics, including navigating college affordability, advancing equal opportunity, and enhancing college readiness through community outreach. The biggest takeaway from the summit was that education non-profit organizations and higher education institutions have an urgent task at hand: redesign access approaches and establish intentional tools that ensure colleges and universities remain as engines of economic mobility, especially for students from often marginalized communities. 

Notably, SHPE, one of the education non-profit organizations, spoke to successful experiences of partnering with academic and industry sectors to deliver intentional programming for the Hispanic community from K-12 all the way through their college experience. 

Keynote speaker, U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona gave powerful welcoming remarks where he emphasized the importance of building diversity on college campuses, advancing college affordability, and reimagining recruitment and retention policies among higher education institutions. Secretary Cardona envisions robust collaborations between community leaders in the K-12 and higher education sectors to find effective pathways for recognizing excellence in students most impacted by the inequities exacerbated by the Supreme Court’s ruling. Drawing from his experience as a former public-school educator, Secretary Cardona acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead but expressed unwavering confidence in the ability of community leaders to rise to the occasion. 

The summit fostered crucial conversations among community leaders, focusing on scalable practices that can promote and instill a profound sense of “Belonging” for students considering higher education. Among the key approaches discussed were simplifying the college application process, incentivizing dual credit opportunities, and strengthening partnerships between non-profits and schools to creatively expand college readiness, affordability, and recruitment. Particular attention was paid to supporting at-risk students with historically disadvantaged backgrounds.  

In addition, leaders from the Civil Rights Office at both Department of Justice and Department of Education provided an essential overview of the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Kristen Clarke, and Catherine Lhamon, Assistant Secretary for the Civil Rights Office at the Department of Education, underscored the need for increased community outreach and awareness mobilization of legitimate resources and implementation practices, particularly concerning Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, to prevent misinformation and ensure equitable admissions processes. 

Overall, the National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education served as a pivotal platform to galvanize collaborative efforts towards making higher education accessible, inclusive, and transformative for all students, regardless of their background. The collective dedication demonstrated by the attendees promises lasting positive change and equal opportunities in the higher education landscape. SHPE will remain vigilant and responsive to the evolving changes stemming from the Court’s ruling. Particularly, as the leading voice for the Hispanic community in STEM, we are focused to continue making a significant impact in advancing diversity and inclusivity in higher education.  

City of Industry, CA – SHPE firmly disagrees with the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action and its impact on our vision of inclusivity and opportunity. As the largest organization in the U.S. of Hispanic students and professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), SHPE strongly believes that diversity and inclusion in our domestic STEM workforce can only make our country stronger. We are deeply disappointed by this ruling, which poses a burden on building an equitable society and promoting educational and economic mobility for underrepresented generations.

When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action admission policies of Harvard and University of North Carolina and deemed them as unconstitutional, decades of progress in diversifying higher education institutions by removing race, as one of many determinant factors, in the college admissions process was undone. This decision undermines college admission policies that aimed to level the playing field for qualified students of color, including Hispanics, when seeking a formal education.

Affirmative action has been instrumental in breaking down persistent barriers and providing equal opportunities for often overlooked communities pursuing higher education. It has embraced the essence of fairness and inclusivity for over four decades. At its core, affirmative action harnessed belonging for students on college campuses.

SHPE remains committed to our mission of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion for all our members. We will continue to advocate for policies that ensure fairness and create pathways for Hispanic students and others who are underrepresented to thrive in all STEM fields nationwide. While this decision sends a disheartening message to students dreaming of a brighter future with equal opportunities, SHPE stands resolute in expanding our reach and making a lasting impact.

ABOUT SHPE

SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 13,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. To accomplish this, SHPE provides a variety of programming, services, resources, and events, including hosting the largest Hispanic STEM convention in the nation.  For more information, visit http://shpe.org.

Bringing You Up to Speed

In July of last year, the government relations department was established to fulfill the third pillar of SHPE’s strategic plan. In less than a year, our dedicated team has successfully cultivated new relationships with multiple agency STEM offices, influential members of the Biden-Harris Administration, and Congressional Members representing Hispanic heritage or significant Hispanic constituencies. Expanding our outreach efforts, we actively engaged with relevant Committee members and leadership in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to gain a comprehensive understanding of the decision-makers shaping STEM education and workforce development opportunities for the Hispanic community.   

Our efforts have contributed significant and valuable insights to advancing and prioritizing K-12 STEM education access, college readiness, private and public partnerships, and fostering a sense of belonging within the industry. Grounded in local, evidence-based research, our initiatives have provided relevant and indispensable data in shaping strategic decision-making for the Hispanic community. 

Events

• White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit
• “You Belong in STEM” National Coordinating Conference by the Department of Education
• “Mujeres Advancing Pay and Gender Equity” by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics
• “Equitable Implementation” for CHIPS and Science Act with CHIPS Office at the Department of Commerce
• Hispanic Members of 118^th Congress Swearing-in Ceremony
• Fireside Chat: Honoring International Day of Women & Girls in STEM hosted by SHPE
• White House Briefing in collaboration with OPE regarding “Building the Next Generation of Hispanic Leaders in STEM”
• Hispanic/Latino Community Partners Roundtable with Federal Bureau of Investigation & Department of Justice
• “Equity & Excellence in Tech” by the STEMM Opportunity Alliance

Accomplishments

• Ongoing advocacy for early STEM education exposure, pay and gender equity, college readiness, workforce improvement, and professional development at all levels. 
• House floor speech honoring Rod Garcia’s life by Congressman Tony Cardenas
• Creation of a Government Relations page on SHPE’s website with news, updates, toolkits, and additional resources.
• Successful coordination of the initial round of “Advocate con SHPE” virtual meetings with Congressional offices and SHPE members, addressing local and national STEM workforce priorities.
• Ongoing advocacy for early STEM education exposure, pay and gender equity, college readiness, workforce improvement, and professional development at all levels. 

What’s Next for SHPE?

While we have made significant strides by earning recognition from key decision makers and opening new avenues, there is still much work ahead of us. It is important that we maintain a consistent focus on highlighting the effectiveness of our programs, the exceptional talent within our membership, and the rich legacy we have built over nearly five decades. By increasing our presence in influential spaces, we can ensure that those with the power to drive legislative changes have our support throughout the process. 

Be assured that our commitment to collaborating with members of the legislative and executive branches remains a top priority, as we’ve shown for the past year with our proactive outreach efforts and successful projects.

Stay Tuned!

In the near future, there will be ample opportunities to actively “Advocate con SHPE” either through virtual meetings or by participating in in-person events with Members of Congress during the August recess. As you host local events to which you’d like to engage with congressional representatives or join virtual advocacy meetings, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible to Senior Associate of Government Relations, Mariana Acuña Delgado at [email protected]. 

Don’t miss out on the chance to make your voice heard and contribute to our advocacy efforts! 

The Office of Public Engagement Welcomed SHPE Members and Staff for an Exclusive Event at the White House on April 18

On April 18, 2023, fifty SHPE members joined a handful of SHPE staff at a briefing on “Building the Next Generation of Hispanic Leaders in STEM” held by the Office of Public Engagement at the White House in Washington, DC and organized by SHPE’s Government Relations department.

The purpose of the briefing was to bring together Administration officials and SHPE representatives for a meaningful discussion of how academia, the private sector, and government can meet labor needs, reduce barriers, and increase representation, while constructing a sustainable education and domestic workforce pipeline of Hispanic students and professionals in STEM.

During the opening remarks, Dr. Amy Loyd, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) at the Department of Education, spoke to the group about current and new higher education opportunities at OCTAE and how she believes that celebrating multilingualism and promoting holistic approaches should be at the forefront of raising the bar on STEM education.Asma Mirza, SAP and Deputy for Infrastructure Implementation Management at the White House, shared that her focus is on implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made historic investments to improve affordable high-speed internet, clean water infrastructure, updating power grids, tackling pollution, public safety, climate resilient public transit. Not only does this law improve the daily lives of many families and individuals, but also creates STEM jobs everywhere in the country.

After thanking the Office of Public Engagement, President Biden, and the SHPE members who made the trip to DC, SHPE CEO Miguel Alemañy said, “There’s no better time than now to put a spotlight on our members. They are part of the 8% that makes up for all Hispanics in the STEM workforce nationwide. A recent report estimated that by 2031, the STEM employment projection will outpace non-STEM sectors by nearly 11%. SHPE is eager to meet that projection by preparing, coaching, and empowering our members through our proven and renowned programs.  We are committed to opening more doors and holding them open so that many more generations of Hispanics in STEM can break as many glass ceilings as possible.”

Following the opening remarks, the group split into three sessions covering early STEM education, Latinas in STEM, and workforce development –

In the first session about early STEM education, the group agreed that early exposure to STEM allows future generations to see themselves doing it, and waiting until high school to engage students is too late. It’s critical to engage students at an early age with interactive experiences, as well as equipping parents and caregivers to effectively support their pre-college children. Another important component is to be sure young people are exposed to successful leaders in STEM who look like them; that they have role models to emulate. Kevin Lima, Special Assistant for the Office of Communications and Outreach at the Department of Education said, “The Department of Education is committed to the help implement and scale equitable, high quality STEM education for all students from PreK to higher education to ensure their 21st century career readiness and global competitiveness. Early exposure to STEM careers is vital in inspiring young Latinos and Latinas to join the STEM field.”

In the second session about Latinas in STEM, the group agreed that visibility and representation are critical. The impact of having at least one Latina in every level of the workforce, we can create bonds, networks, and coaching environments that pave the way for more Latinas to enter STEM fields. But changing the ecosystem women are in means educating others about being allies – recognizing the talent Latinas have, acknowledging their worth, coaching them, and empowering them to advocate for themselves. For example, Latinas currently earn 54 cents per dollar. To be able to advocate for themselves effectively, there needs to be wage transparency at all levels, so Latinas know their worth and can push to have their wages reflect that value to the organization. Additionally, re-entry programs are critical, especially after having a child or caring for an elderly parent. The government, industry and academia must have systems in place to support these Latinas reentering the workplace.

In the third session about workforce development, the group discussed how better access to information is critical to how colleges and universities promote STEM resource opportunities that the government has dedicated to increase equity for young and seasoned Hispanic professionals. Additionally, NASA, OSTP, and the National Science Foundation (NSF) need continued conversations with organizations like SHPE to identify barriers and find equitable solutions impacting the Hispanic community, while promoting Hispanic role models in STEM. Dr. Michela Muñoz Fernández, Mars Sample Return Program Executive at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said, “NASA supports Hispanic employees in terms of education and training opportunities to help them in their careers by leveraging Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to socialize and provide access to information on opportunities. We are determined to continue bridging the gap between access and information and specifically meet the employees’ needs to ensure they benefit from an enriching experience at NASA.” Finally, active collaboration with academia and the private sectors will be catalysts for creative solutions to close the gap between talent and non-traditional pathways in education and the workforce.  Dr. Nafeesa Owens, Assistant Director for STEM Education and Workforce, Senior Policy Advisor at White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) concurred, “Progress happens when we’re all collaborating. OSTP is ready to act, engage, listen, and identify agreeable goals.”

In conclusion, Sol Ortega, Senior Advisor for the Office of Public Engagement at the White House, spoke about the importance of close partnerships with SHPE to increase access, awareness, and workforce development opportunities for Hispanics in STEM, particularly for younger generations that benefit from feeling represented and empowered to be successful in the industry. She and the Administration encourage SHPE members to bring their STEM expertise and unique voice to Washington, DC by pursuing internships and roles at the White House.

The Office of Public Engagement Welcomes SHPE Members and Staff for an Exclusive Event at the White House on April 18

(City of Industry, CA) — On April 18, fifty SHPE members will join a handful of SHPE staff at a briefing on “Building the Next Generation of Hispanic Leaders in STEM” held by the Office of Public Engagement at the White House in Washington, DC and organized by SHPE’s Government Relations department.

The purpose of the briefing is to bring together Administration officials and SHPE representatives for a meaningful discussion of howacademia, the private sector, and government can meet labor needs, lower barriers, and increase representation, while constructing a sustainable education and domestic workforce pipeline of Hispanic students and professionals in STEM.

“In line with our new strategic plan, this prestigious event is a significant step towards achieving our goal of ‘being a key voice in Washington, D.C. with deep reach and a reputation as the leading organization for Hispanics in STEM’,” says interim CEO Miguel Alemañy. “The entire Familia should be proud to see SHPE with a seat at this table. It’s an indication of how far we’ve come in achieving Rod Garcia’s vision from 1974.”

The delegation from SHPE includes Hispanic students and young professionals who are pursuing a degree and career in various STEM disciplines, who are best able to recommend the most impactful types of support to help them complete their degree and feel like they belong in an industry that traditionally lacks Hispanic representation. Also joining the discussion are members of SHPE’s Academic and Industry Partnership Council members who are best able to highlight the value of building a diverse workforce in both private and public sectors.

SHPE representatives include:

Mariana Acuña Delgado

SHPE, Government Relations Senior Associate

Giana Aguilar-Valencia

DePaul University, Student

Miguel Alemañy

SHPE, Interim CEO

Angela Asfura

St. Mary’s University, Mechanical Engineering Student

Erik Jacob Barbosa

Georgia Institute of Technology, Student

Brendon Bolanos De Morales

The University of Texas at Arlington, Student

Christian Buenrostro

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Mechanical Engineer/ Project Manager

Victor Cervantes

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Associate Director MEP

Adrian Dávila

Virginia Tech, Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering

Kimberly Douglas 

SHPE, Chief Research & Innovation Officer

Axel Flores-Roman

IBM, Cloud Platform Partner Technical Specialist

Maira Garcia

Honeywell, Senior Advanced Systems Engineer/SHPE Program Manager

Juan Antonio Garcia

So Cal Carriers, Truck Driver

Luisa Imelda Garcia

Stay at home mom

Anthony Jacob Garcia

Los Altos HS, Student

Karen Joanna Garcia

Sparks Middle School, Student

Andrea Carolina Godoy

University of Miami, Student

Benjamin Gonzalez Vazquez

Bechtel Corporation, Pipe Stress Engineer

Julio Grapa

Procter & Gamble, Director Global Business Services

Raymond Guerrero

Ramapo College of New Jersey, Student

Kelvin Guzman-Baez

Rutgers University – New Brunswick, Student

Daniel Haros 

Arizona State University, Master’s student/Energy Efficiency Specialist

Brenda Henriquez

George Mason University, Computer Science Graduate Student

Christopher Hernandez

UC San Francisco, Professor

Valeria Hernández Echegaray

University of Southern California, Student

Ashleigh Herrera

Tufts University, PhD Candidate

Monique Herrera

SHPE, Chief External Relations Officer

Robert Keynton

University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dean, William States Lee College of Engineering

Yareni P. Lara-Rodríguez

University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, Doctoral Student

Xaymara Lasheras-Muniz

University of Puerto Rico – Ponce, Student         

Andrea Lastra

Microsoft, Technical Support Engineer

Taylor B. Leonard

New Jersey Institute of Technology/Medtronic, Student/Business Process Analyst

Jorge Arturo Levario-Delagarza

University of Texas at Arlington/SpaceX, Starship Launch Engineering Intern

Andrea Lopez

The Boeing Company, Propulsion Engineer

Efren Lopez

University of Florida, Student

Dayna Martínez

SHPE, Research & Innovation Director

Rhonda McNeill

SHPE, Chief Administration Officer

Thelma Mendoza

University of Portland, Student

Juan Ocampo

St. Mary’s University, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering/Assistant Chair of Engineering

Ashley Orta

East Los Angeles College, Student

Lenin Paulino

United States Patent and Trademark Office, Patent Examiner

Miguel Payan

University of Oklahoma, McNair Scholar

Lance Pérez

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Dean and Heins Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Ala Qubbaj

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Dean

Nora Rincon

General Motors, Program Quality Manager

Carlos Rivera-Camacho

University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez, Student

Lesly Rojas Caloca

Oregon State University, Electrical and Computer Engineering Undergraduate

Guillermo Rullan

University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez, Student

Giovanna Salazar

SHPE, Social Media Manager

Francis Samalot

The Boeing Company, Research Engineer

Jose Tabarez

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Student

Nicolas A. Tempestini

SHPE, Board of Directors Member

Salena Torres

AccentCare, Inc., Transformation Program Director

Vicente Treviño

University of Colorado Boulder / Colorado Mesa University, Student

Emily Anne Vargas

University of Southern California/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow

Idalis Villanueva

University of Florida, Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies

Gerardo Zuniga

Medtronic, Sr Quality Systems Director

“Thank you to the entire SHPE Familia, staff, supporters, and partners for their dedication to SHPE that got us here and made this possible,” says Senior Associate of Government Relations at SHPE Mariana Acuna Delgado. “It’s only because of the achievements of SHPE members past and present who have proven the value of diversity in STEM that I was able to make this event happen. And thank you to the Office of Public Engagement at the White House for their ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and for welcoming SHPE to DC.”

Check us out on social media on April 18 when we’ll be live tweeting from the White House! And stay tuned to SHPE Nation for pictures and updates from the event.

About SHPE
SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 13,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. For more information, please visit https://www.shpe.org/

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SHPE Makes Commitments to Support the Department of Education STEM Education Initiative

It has been 10 years since the U.S. Department of Education gathered in a conference setting with stakeholders from around the country to discuss advancing STEM education equity in America. On Wednesday, December 7, the Department of Education hosted the newly launched “YOU Belong in STEM” initiative’s National Coordinating Conference in Washington, D.C. This initiative is designed to strengthen STEM education nationwide and it’s part of a set of key initiatives from the Biden-Harris Administration focused on ensuring that all students from PreK to higher education have access to high quality STEM learning while cultivating a sense of belonging to promote a student’s success. The “YOU Belong in STEM” initiative unites government, nonprofits, professional organizations, industries, philanthropies, and other community stakeholders and calls upon them to make bold commitments towards breaking down long-standing barriers that prevent students from pursuing a career in STEM while encouraging them to explore and follow their passions in all STEM disciplines.

At the conference, SHPE was joined by government leaders like U.S. Senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly from Arizona, Assistant Secretary for U.S. Health and Human Services Rachel Levine, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, and U.S. Department of Education Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten. Their loud support for creating pathways for greater access opportunities, early STEM education awareness, and culturally diverse approaches perfectly align with SHPE’s mission of making generational impacts by changing lives of Hispanic students and professionals throughout their STEM education journey. Prior to this conference, SHPE was part of preliminary conversations about the importance of belonging in STEM and was asked by the Department of Education to take part in the initiative’s commitments towards ensuring that all students from PreK to higher education can excel in rigorous, relevant, and joyful STEM learning. Out of 90 commitments submitted by the time of the conference, SHPE submitted three commitments and was one of six organizations selected to publicly share them. We are so proud to have set the following goals:

• Pre-college Programming will engage and inspire over 7,500 Hispanic youth to pursue STEM degrees and careers in 2023. Pre-college Programming events are structured to be culturally relevant by having participants interact with Hispanic STEM role models who guide them through STEM hands-on activities.  Familia is a core SHPE value and permeates everything we do at SHPE, contributing to belongingness. The program is structured to achieve three core objectives: 1) increase STEM awareness, 2) increasing STEM self-efficacy, and 3) increase STEM identity. Registration information captures participant data that will be used in the short term to speak to geographic footprint and in the long-term to determine if they eventually enter college and pursue and complete a STEM degree. 

• The Equipando Padres (Equipping Parents) program will serve over 750 parents in 2023. This program gives parents of 1^st-generation-to-college and low socio-economic status students the tools and knowledge necessary to better support their children earning engineering degrees. Equipando Padres events and resources are structured to be culturally relevant by having participants interact with Hispanic STEM role models who share their stories, and by having all resources and experiences be delivered in both English and Spanish. Familia is a core SHPE value and permeates everything we do at SHPE, contributing to belongingness. Registration information captures participant data that will be used in the short term to speak to geographic footprint and in the long-term to determine if their student entered college and pursued and completed a STEM degree. 

• The ScholarSHPE program improves representation and increases persistence of Hispanics in STEM careers by providing financial support. The ScholarSHPE program will serve over 325 students with over $1.8M of financial support in the 2022-23 academic year by lowering the financial burden of higher education and showing them that the STEM industry and their SHPE Familia are invested in their future. Recipients range from high school seniors to support their first year of college through doctoral level students. Application information captures participant data that will be used in the short term to speak to geographic footprint and in the long-term to determine persistence and completion of a STEM degree. 

We don’t take these promises lightly and are very grateful to this initiative for including us in this nationwide effort by sharing this platform with us to bring the unique voice of the Hispanic community in this important conversation. SHPE looks forward to achieving these goals and to the continued partnership with the U.S. Department of Education to bring equitable and powerful solutions for Hispanics in STEM.

For more information about this initiative, please visit the YOU Belong in STEM page HERE.
YOUBelongInSTEM Mid-Year Report

We would love to hear from you and your story! Share how SHPE empowers you to be a leading voice in STEM. Please tag @SHPENational (Instagram, Facebook) or @SHPE (Twitter and LinkedIn) and use the following hashtags: #SHPEFamilia #YOUBelongInSTEM.

(City of Industry, CA) – With nearly 50 years of experience in diversifying and strengthening the STEM field, SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) applauds Congress for enacting the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 on a broad bipartisan basis. This bill is an unprecedented investment to our nation’s workforce in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and will undoubtedly bolster U.S. global competitiveness in innovation by providing the tools to break STEM barriers.

We are thrilled the CHIPS and Science Act dedicates crucial funding for the National Science Foundation to strengthen and grow a highly skilled innovation workforce by broadening access to STEM education and diversifying the STEM field over the next five years. Some have projected that the legislation could help add 90,000 workers in these fields by 2025.

With $81 billion in new funding authorizations for the National Science Foundation over five years, the bill will:

• PreK-12 STEM education: Identify STEM education barriers; support research and development to improve informal STEM education; and establish a ten-year National STEM Teacher Corps pilot program to attract and retain highly skilled teachers and thus increase student participation and achievements.
• Undergraduate STEM education: Support research and development to better align STEM education and training with workforce needs; updates the Advanced Technological Education program to establish a network of centers for science and technical education, and supports research and development to improve STEM education at community colleges; awards effective research and development practices in community colleges for STEM education, hands-on training and research experiences, and career and technical education in STEM fields; establishes a pilot program to develop and scale up successful models for providing students with hands-on course-based research experiences.
• Graduate STEM education: Expand requirement for funding proposals to include a mentoring plan for graduate students; supports facilitating career exploration opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers; creates a requirement for funding proposals to include individual development plans and provides supplemental funding for facilitating professional development for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers; updates the Graduate Research Fellowship Program to increase the number of new graduate fellows supported annually, address workforce demand, increase the cost of education allowance, and recruit a more diverse pool of applicants; requires an evaluation of mechanisms for supporting graduate student education and training; requires a report on the need and feasibility of a program to recruit and train the next generation of artificial intelligence professionals and authorizes NSF to establish a Federal AI scholarship-for-service program, which would run in addition to existing programs such as CyberCorps Scholarship-for-Service.
• Rural STEM education: Authorizes the National Science Foundation to support online STEM education and mentoring research; innovative approaches in STEM teaching that improve student participation and advancement, including through a pilot program of regional rural cohorts that provide peer support, mentoring, and hands-on research experiences for rural STEM educators. Directs the NSF Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering (CEOSE) to report to Congress an assessment of NSF activities that support participation of rural students in STEM studies.

We are grateful for the strong support and big investments from Congress to further access to STEM education and diversify the STEM workforce. We celebrate this big win and look forward to becoming a resource and partner for Federal leaders during its implementation process.

ABOUT SHPE
SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 13,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. To accomplish this, SHPE provides a variety of programming, services, resources, and events, including hosting the largest Hispanic STEM convention in the nation. For more information, visit http://shpe.org.

Contact:
Mariana Acuña Delgado
[email protected]